Integrated shoe and shoehorn



July 19, 1966 K. w. sAUNDx-:Rs

INTEGRATED SHOE AND SHOEHORN Filed July 2. 1964 FIG.Ib

FIGIO FlG. 3

/A/VE/VTOR KENNETH W. SAUNDERS FIGA United States Patent O 3,261,114INTEGRATED SHOE AND SHOEHORN Kenneth W. Saunders, Quincy, Mass.,assignor to Perma Shoehorn Corporation, Braintree, Mass, a corporationof Massachusetts Filed July 2, 1964, Ser. No. 379,901 7 Claims. (Cl.Sti-2.5)

This invention relates to shoehorns and more particularly to integratedshoehorns that form a permanent part of a shoe, sneaker, skate orsimilar article of footwear.

For a variety of reasons, prior art devices have eventually reduced thecomfort of footwear to which they were attached. The material of whichthe devices were necessarily made were alternately too stiff, bulky orso flexible the material wrinkled with use.

One early device was merely a simple tab of leather placed in the shoe.The ball of the foot rested on the forward section and held the horn inplace while the rear section acted as ya horn. However, the materialwrinkles very quickly in time due to perspiration. The consequentwrinkling becomes very uncomfortable. In light of the above disadvantagesubsequent devices were fabricated from firmer materials. One suchdevice had the disadvantage of being hinged at a point contiguous withthe junction of the shoes counter and inner sole, thereby introducing anunwanted protrusion into the shoe. Furthermore, a conspicuous tab wasassociated with this device, in that the t-ab extended over the counterwhen a foot was in the shoe.

Subsequent improvements assured fixation in location of the shoehorn andincreased stiffness of the tab through laminating selected portions ofthe shoehorn. In order to restore exibility to the tab so that it wouldconformv more readily to the shape of the shoe, holes or slots were cutinto the material. Again this device was not wrinkle proof andadditionally was bulky.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an integratedshoehorn which will enhance rather than detract from the existingcomfort of a shoe.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoehorn having minimalinternal protrusions with regard to the shoe.

Another object of this invention is to provide an integrated shoehornrelatively wrinkle-free with continued use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structurally simplerintegrated shoehorn.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoehorn that snapscomfortably and inconspicuously into place in the shoe of Va wearer.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparentfrom the following detailed description when taken in conjunction withthe attached drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 shows the components of this invention of which FIGURE la `is aplane View of a precut calfskin, FIGURE 1b is a metal stay, `and lc is aprecut heel tab.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an assembled shoehorn.

FIGURE 3 shows a shoehorn installed in a shoe.

FIGURE 4 shows a shoehorn with a foot in place.

FIGURE 5 shows a shoehorn utilizing a split innersole.

The present invention can be incorporated into a shoe while the shoe isin the process of manufacture or it can be fabricated as an independentarticle of manufacture and later incorporated in a shoe previouslymanufactured.

Referring to FIGURE la, a plane view of a precut flexible calfskin 11 isshown. Lower section 13 and upper section 12 fold about fold line 14.FIGURE 1b shows a metal stay 15, preferably of spring steel. FIGURE 1cshows precut pad 22 of firm leather, cut to conform to the heel'of ashoe. Pad 22 bears feather edge 23 to provide maximum comfort when thepad is placed in `a shoe.

In FIGURE 2 the shoehorn is shown assembled. Upper section 12 of precutcalfskin 11 is seen folded upward forming a right angle with lowersection 13 about fold 14. Pad 22 is placed over lower section 13.Preferably two metal stays 15 are placed between pad 22 and lowersection 13 of calfsk-in 11 .as shown. Lower section 13 is rmly cemented,stitched or otherwise attached to pad 22 permanently fixing metal stays15 therebetween.

The assembled shoehorn is shown installed in shoe 33, FIGURE 3. Nails 34are driven through nail holes 25 and into the innersole attaching theshoehorn in position. The shoehorn is free to move up and down asindicated in FIGURE 3. When the shoehorn has Vaided the entry of onesfoot, it snaps into place as shown in FIGURE 4 fitting snugly in place'affording maximum comfort.

The above described embodiment can be fabricated separately and laterinstalled in a users regular shoe. If, on the other hand, it is founddesirable to incorporate my invention into a shoe while said shoe is inthe process of manufacture, a much simpler embodiment is available asshown in FIGURE 5.

Referring to FIGURE 5, there is shown innersole 42 which is split priorto assembly of the shoe. Precut calfskin 11 it attached to top section45 of split innersole 42 as it would be attached to pad 22 above withmetal stays 15 therebetween. A conventional heel pad 43 may be placedover the split innersole 42 in the manner similar to that employed inthe conventional manufacturer of shoes, although heel pad 43 is renderedunnecessary for nails that are likely to `appear from the shoe heel willbe covered by the shoehorn. However, the use lof a conventional heel pad43 with my invention dresses up the shoes appearance considerably.

In either embodiment, a flexible tab 40 of calfskin can be .attached totop section 12 of precut calfskin 11 to facilitate gripping saidshoehorn. The material is preferably folded over the top edge of saidprecut section 12 and stitched thereto forming a small loop that permitsthe entry of a pointed object such as a pencil -when it is desired tourge the unit into use or to increase the users hold over the shoehorn.

While my invention has been described with reference to a specificembodiment, certain changes and substitutions may be added withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore, theforegoing lis not to be regarded as a limitation on the scope of myinvention as set forth in the objects thereof .and in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. An Iintegrated shoe and shoehorn which forms a permanent part of theshoe comprising, a precut exible component of soft supple tear-resistantmaterial having an upper section and a lower section, a plurality ofmetal stays in said shoehorn, heel pad means of material substantiallymore rigid than said flexible component, an insole, and means securelyfastening said heel pad to said exible component and t-o said insole.

2. An integrated shoehorn according to claim 1 wherein said precutflexible component is calfskin.

3. An integrated shoehorn according to claim 1 wherein said metal staysare spring steel.

4. An integrated shoehbrn according to claim 3 wherein said heel padmeans is a precut leather pad conforming to the shape of the heelportion of a lowcut shoe.

5. An integrated shoehorn according to claim 3 wherein said heel padmeans is the upper segment of an innersole split from the heel end tothe shank portion of an innersole.

6. An integrated shoe and shoehorn which forms a permanent part of theshoe comprising, a precut exible calfskin component having an uppersection and a lower section, said upper section being folded normal tosaid lower section, a precut heel pad of rm leather-like material havinga feathered shank portion and overlying said lower section, said heelpad conforming t-o the shape `of the heel portion of an innersole, andtwo spring steel metal stays, said metal stays being located between theheel pad and the lower section of said precut calfskin, an insole, andmeans securely fastening said heel pad to said lower section of saidcalfskin and to said insole.

7. An integrated shoehorn .according to claimy 6 which further includesa tab of folded calfskin attached to said facilitate gripping saidshoehorn.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Scism 36-2.5Scism 3 6-2'.5 Trimbur 3 6-2.5 Menenko 36-2.5 Evans 3 6-2.5

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

upper section of said precut exible calfskin which will 15 PATRICK D,LAWSON, Examiner.

